Portion Control During the Holidays

Portion Control During the Holidays

Hello Loyal Soup People! We often hear that the key to controlling weight is portion control. Unfortunately, we are trained at a young age to clear our plates, regardless of whether or not we are still hungry. This learned habit haunts us as we grow up because we are not listening to our bodies. Rather, we eat until there is nothing left on our plates. The solution? Put less on our plates! There are several ways to do this:

– At home, use smaller plates and bowls. Yes, it is that simple. If you serve your main course on a salad plate, there just isn’t as much room to put the food. You are forced to serve smaller portions.
– Never eat directly from a package. It is nearly impossible to eat a single serving of anything if you are munching directly from a bag. If you are eating chips, nuts, or anything that comes in a large bag, remove a single serving and put the package away.
– When eating out, immediately put half the meal in a to-go bag. By simply removing the food from the plate, you’ll eat less!

It is also important to understand serving sizes. Keep in mind these handy comparisons:
– A one ounce serving of chocolate looks like a 9 volt battery.
– A two tablespoon serving of peanut butter or hummus is the equivalent of a golf ball.
– A serving of dry spaghetti is the same diameter as a nickel.
– A half cup serving of beans or rice fits in a cupcake wrapper.
– A full cup of soup, cereal, cooked pasta, or a casserole is the equivalent of a baseball.

Keep in mind these visual cues when thinking about servings. Serving sizes are often smaller than we realize! But comparing them to familiar objects, we can keep a closer eye on what we eat.

Of course, the best tip is to listen to your body. Eat slowly. Put down your fork or spoon in between each bite. Simply stop eating when you are no longer hungry! Unfortunately, this is hard for most of us to do! Practice makes perfect!

*NOTE – Soupermom is not a licensed dietitian, doctor, personal trainer, or anything like that. She’s just extremely knowledgeable about healthy living!! But if you slip and fall while taking her advice, it is not her fault!